Adjustable worktable



M y 1952 R. c. M KINNIE ADJUSTABLE WORKTABLE Filed Aug. 11, 1947 IN V EN TOR.

ox fa/v C /7 /61v/w Patented May 13, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE WORKTABLE Roxton C. McKinnie, Santa Monica, Calif.

Application August 11, 1947, Serial No. 767,976

4 Claims.

This invention relates to work tables and their supporting structure, and more particularly to supporting devices for tables designed for specialized types of work, such as that of ironing or smoothing textiles. 7

An object of the present invention is to provide a folding support which is particularly adapted for, but which is not necessarily limited to use in connection with household ironing boards, and which constitutes an improvement over the folding table support forming the subject matter of my co-pending application, Serial No. 704,641, filed October 21, 1946, now abandoned.

Another object of my present invention is to provide a work table support which is capable of optionally being folded to collapsed position so that when not in use it can be stored conveniently in a minimum of space, or being extended to operative position to support the table in a horizontal plane, and which additionally is provided with a stop for limiting the degree to which the support can be extended, thus predetermining the height at which the table will be supported.

A further object in this connection is to make the height-determining stop easily adjustable, thereby making it possible for an operator to arrange the table at that particular elevation which will afford the greatest convenience according to the condition under which the table is to be used, and to cause the table automatically to be supported at that same elevation each time it is set up until, of course, the stop is readjusted.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the l foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the structure therefor folded to its fully collapsed position.

Figure 3 is a detail view in longitudinal vertical section drawn to enlarged scale of the adjustable stop for limiting the height to which the ironing board is to be supported and the spring catch mechanism associated therewith.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken upon the line 4-4 of Figure 3, with the direction of view as indicated.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view in transverse vertical section taken upon the line 5-5 of Figure 1, with the direction of view as indicated.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken upon the line 6-6 of Figure l, with the direction of view as indicated, and showing details of the pivotal connection between the two leg members.

Figure '7 is an enlarged. detail View in 1ongitudinal vertical section, the plane of section of which may be considered to have been taken upon the line 1-1 of Figure 2', with the direction of view as indicated but with the leg which is shown in broken lines swinging downwards from that position in which it Figure 2.

In that form of folding ironing board disclosed in my said co-pending application, the board is supported by a pair of pivotally interconnected members, one of which is pivoted to the board for movement about an axis which is fixed with respect to the board and the other of which is provided with means for releasably interconnecting its upper end with the board at any of a plurality of locations, thus making it possible to support the board at any of a plurality of possible elevations above its supporting surface with the board parallel to that supporting surface in all positions of adjustment. The ironing board and supporting structure therefor towhich the present invention is directed differs from that of my said earlier application in that, instead of being capable of being fastened to the board at any of a plurality of locations, the upper end of what corresponds in the present invention to the second of the said supporting members is guided for free sliding movement longitudinally of the board and along its under surface; and the means for" securing the supporting structure at that position of adjustment which will cause the board to be supported at the desired elevation takes the form of one or more tension members and extends between. points on; the pivotally joined leg members which are offset from their is illustrated in axis of pivotal connection. This tension member is connected to one of the supporting members through the expedient of a slide mounted for free sliding movement upon the latter which is also providedwith a stop for limiting the extent, of such sliding movement and thereby determining the height to which the board will be supported by limiting the extent of pivotal movement of one of the leg members about the axis of its pivotal connection to the other. The stop, however, is readily adjustable so that the board may be supported optionally at any of several different possible heights, and the stop and the slide are preferably releasably interconnected by a spring catch mechanism which prevents retraction of the supporting members to their folded position without first releasing the catch.

Whereas the folding and adjustable supporting structure of the present invention is shown and described herein in operative association with a conventional household ironing board, it is to be understood that it is applicable with equal efficiency to other forms of work tables wherein it is desirable to provide means for adjusting its working surface to diiferent elevations so as to afford convenience for different circumstances of use. Moreover, whereas the top member of this work table has, for want of a more generic term, been referred to as a board, it is to be understood that no implication as to the type of material employed in its manufacture is implied.

In that modification of my present invention which has been chosen for specific illustration and description, the top member or board [I is in the form of a conventional ironing board, the relatively pointed end I2 of which will be referred to herein as the forward end, and the other end [3 as the after end. The board II is adapted to be supported horizontally by a pair of leg members it and Il, the former of which is pivotally connected at its upper end to the under surface of the board I I adjacent the after end I3, whereas the upper end of the leg member I! is connected to the under surface of the board II adjacent its forward end [2 for free sliding movement longitudinally of the board.

The leg member IT comprises preferably a pair of legs I8 and I3 which are spaced apart throughout their entire length and which diverge downwardly so that their lower ends are further apart than their upper ends, thus permitting their lower ends to be separated by a distance as great as or greater than the width of the widest portion of the board II, whereas the upper portion of the legs I8 and I9 are both spaced inwardly a material distance from the lateral edges of the board I I, as is clearly shown in Figure 2. The two legs I8 and I9 are rigidly interconnected into a unitary structure and are held in planar alignment with each other by a transversely extending upper rod 2|, a transversely extending lower brace 22, and a transversely extending rod 23, each of which is welded or otherwise rigidly and permanently attached to both legs I8 and [2. The upper rod 2| is sufficiently longer than the distance between the outer or distal faces of the legs [3 and I9 at their upper ends to project under the inwardly directed flanges 24 of a pair of parallel opposed, longitudinally extending tracks 26 which may be formed of pairs of Z-shaped cross section, the upper flanges 21 of which are rigidly secured to the under surface of the board I I as by screws 28.

The rod 23 whereby the intermediate portions of the legs l8 and I9 are rigidly interconnected serves as the pintle portion of the pivotal interconnection between the two leg members It and H. The portion of this pivotal interconnection which is rotatable about the pintle or rod 23 is a tube 3| rigid with the leg member H. The tube 3| serves to distribute stress throughout a substantial length of the rod 23 and thereby avoid the concentraion of stress at localized points throughout its length, and in this manner avoid the necessity of using a rod of considerably greater diameter than that of the rod 23 upon which the stress is distributed in the manner described.

The leg member I6 is preferably in the form of a single leg 36 bifurcated at its upper end to provide two branches 3'! and 38 across and beyond which the tube 3| extends, as best illustrated in Figures 2 and 6. Adjacent their upper ends, the two branches 3! and 38 are interconnected by a rod 39 rigid therewith and extending therebeyond far enough for the ends of the rod 39 to be pivoted within suitable brackets 4| secured to the under surface of the board I I in any convenient manner. In order to impart the greatest possible degree of stability to the board and thereby minimize any tendency for the board to be upset as the result of the downward pressure imposed thereupon at or near an end of the board, the preferable position for the brackets 4| is at a distance from their associated end I3 of the board which substantially corresponds to the distance 218cm the other end I2 of the board to the tracks Thus it may be seen that the two leg members I6 and I! can optionally be retracted to folded position closely underlying and substantially parallel to the board II, as illustrated in Figure 2, or extended to operative position to support the board II at any selected elevation in accordance with the degree of extension to which the leg members It and I1 are adjusted, as illustrated in Figure 1. When being so adjusted, the leg members l6 and I1 move in a scissors-like action pivoted with respect to each other about the common axis of the rod 23and tube 3|, the upper end of the leg member [6 pivoting about the axis of the rod 39, and the upper end of the leg member ll partaking of a combined pivotal and sliding movement in which it is guided by the two tracks 23. It is apparent, therefore, that the further the leg members I6 and I! are extended, the closer will the lower ends of the leg members I6 and I! approach each other.

Preferably a pair of tension members or rods 46 are pivoted to the leg member II, one such rod 46 being pivoted to each of the legs I8 and I9 adjacent the lower end so that leg and it are adjacent one end of the rod 46. The opposite ends of the rods 46 are joined to each other and also pivotally interconnected to a flange 41 extending downwardly from a sliding member 48 or hollow block slidably mounted upon the single leg 36 of the leg member I6 adjacent its lower end. Thus it may be seen that as the leg members l6 and I! are extended, the block 48 is caused to slide further toward the lower end of the leg 33, from which it is also apparent that the degree of extension of the leg members can readily be limited by a stop which also may be in the form of a hollow block 49 carried by the leg 36 below the slide 48. By affixing the block or stop 49 to the leg 36, the degree of extension of the leg members I6 and I1, and consequently the height to which the board II will be supported each time it is set up, will be made definite, i. e., the board will be supported at the same height each time it is set up provided the stop 49 remains in a given position. However, by making the means for anchoring the stop 49 in given position upon; the leg 36 adjustable so that the stop 49 can optionally be moved to any of a plurality of possible positions" of adjustment along the leg 36*, a variety of possible heights to which the board I 1' can. be supported is made available.

With this object in view, the stop 49 is made freely slidable uponthe leg 36 and means are provided for releasably anchoring it in selected position therealong, this anchoring means preferably' being in, the form of a pin 51 extending inwardlyfrom a plate 52retained loosely in position upon the upper surface of the block or stop 49'by another pin 53 which is rigid with theblock 49 and which extends upwardly therefrom through a suitable hole in the plate 52. A coil spring 54. i's'un'der'compression between the plate 52 and a head 5'6. which is provided on the upper end of the pin 5.3, with the result that the spring 54, continually urges the plate 52 downwards toward the block 49 and thereby yieldably retains the pin 5! which is rigid with the plate 52 in a position extending through aligned holes 51 and 58 in the top of the block 49 and in the upper portion of the: leg 36, respectively.

A plurality of holes 58 are provided at suitably spaced intervals along the length of the leg 36 so that by raising the plate 52 substantially to the position thereof indicated in broken lines in Figure 3, the block 49 can be released from any given position upon the leg 36, whereupon the block can be slid along the leg until its pin 5| moves into registry with another of the holes 58, whereupon release of the plate 52 will permit the spring 54 to seat the pin 5! in that newly selected hole and thereby firmly but releasably anchor the block 49 in its new position of adjustment. If the block 49 is slid to a lower position upon the leg 36, it will permit the slide 48 to move further downthe leg 36 before coming into abutment therewith, with the result that the lower ends of the leg members It and H can be swung more nearly together, thus assuming a more nearly vertical position and causing the board H to be supported at a higher elevation. On the other hand, if the stop block 49 is anchored in a higher position on the leg 36, it will limit the movement of the slide 48 along the leg 36 to a shorter distance, with the result that when the slide 48 engages the stop block 49 the legs will be more widely separated, as indicated in broken lines in Figure 1, and the board I I will be supported at a lower elevation.

Preferably the slide 48 is provided with an inclined flange or strike plate 6! in a position to engage a hook-shaped latch 62 at the proximal end of the plate 52. This latch 62 is at the opposite end of the plate 52 from the pin 5|, with the result that when the latch 62 is lifted by the strike plate 6|, it lifts only the associated end of the plate 52 and does not operate to remove the pin 5| from its anchoring position. When the strike plate 6| is engaged under the latch 52, as illustrated in Figure 3, the stop block 49 and the slide 48 are firmly but releasably united, with the result that the slide 48 is prevented from moving upwardly along the leg 36 and away from the block 49 in the manner which is necessary to permit the leg members [5 and ll to separate. Accordingly, so long as this engagement between the stop block 49 and slide 49 is maintained, the board II will be supported in its then position of vertical adjustment. However, when it is desired to fold the board to its collapsed relation, it is necessary only to release the latch 62, this being easily accomplished by pressing downwardly upon a preferably raised handle portion 63- at that end of the plate 52 opposite the latch 52 and beyond the pin 5t. This can be accomplished without releasing thepin 5| from the hole 58 withinwhich it is then seated, with the result that'the positionwhich the stop block 49 occupies on the leg 36- need not be disturbed and, consequently, when the leg members again are extended to place the board H in position for subsequent use, the slide 48 will be limited in its downwardmovementalong the-leg 38 at the same position as before, thereby automatically causing the board to be supported at the sameelevation without requiring any attention on the part of the operator.

0n the other hand, should it be desired to use the board at a difierentelevation to meet different circumstances of use, it is necessary only to lift the handle 83 of the plate 52 far enough to withdraw the pin 5'! and to slide the block 49 along the leg 36- until the pin 51 can seat in that hole 58 which is appropriate to the desired elevaticn for the board H.

Preferably the leg members It and Ill are secured to the board H nearer the after end it than the forward end' l2, thereby leaving a longer portion of the board available at its pointed end' I'2 unobstructed by its supporting structure. This offers convenience in ironing such articles of" clothing such as skirts by permitting one side of the skirt to hang freely under the board while the opposite side of the skirt rests smoothly on the upper surface of the board. However, in order to compensate for the, longitudinal offsetting of the boards support and achieve that stability which will provide ample assurance against the boards being upset when pressure is imposed thereupon, at or adjacent its pointed end l2, the lower end of thel'eg member I5 is preferably sufficiently longer than the lower end of the leg member. !1 for the foot 66 which is provided at the extreme lower end of the leg .16 to be disposed substantially under the point of the forward. end I2 of the board ll, even when the leg members l6 and IT are adjusted to their position of extreme extension. This inequality in the length of the lower ends of the leg members It and H, i. e., in those portions of the leg members below their pivotal interconnection, is compensated by making the upper end oi the leg member l8 proportionately longer than the upper end of the leg member I'I. Consequently, the upper portions of the leg members define the sides of a triangle which is smaller than but similar to a triangle, the sides of which are defined by the lower ends of the leg members, thus assuring that the board II will be parallel to the supporting surface regardless of the degree of extension to which the leg members l6 and I! may be adjusted.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a folding and vertically adjustable table comprising a board, a leg member supporting each end of said board and extending obliquely downward therefrom in a plane intersecting that of the other of said leg members below said board, means pivotally interconnecting said leg members, means connecting the upper end of one of said leg members to said board for pivotal movement with respect thereto, and means connecting the upper end of the other of said leg members to 7 said board for pivotal and sliding movement with respect thereto, a stop slidably mounted upon one of said leg members, releasable means for securing said stop in selected position thereon,

a brace connected to the other of said leg members, and means for releasably securing said brace to said stop means and thereby releasably retaining said leg members at selected angularity with respect to each other and said board at selected elevation.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a foldin and vertically adjustable table comprising a board, a leg member supporting each end of said board and extending obliquely downward therefrom in a plane intersecting that of the other of said leg members below said board, means pivotally interconnecting said leg members, means connecting the upper end of one of said leg members to said board for pivotal movement with respect thereto, and means connecting the upper end of the other of said leg members to said board for pivotal and sliding movement with respect thereto, one of said leg members comprising a pair of legs spaced apart from each other and means rigidly interconnecting said legs and the other of said leg members extending between said legs, a stop slidably mounted on said other of said leg members, means for releasably anchoring said stop in selected position of adjustment on said other of said leg members, a rod pivoted to each of said legs, and means for releasably connecting said rods to said stop means to releasably retain said leg members at selected angularity with respect to each other and said board at selected elevation.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a folding and vertically adjustable table comprising a board, a leg member supporting each end of said board and extending obliquely downward therefrom in a plane intersecting that of the other of said leg members below said board, means pivotally interconnecting said leg members, means connecting the upper end of one of said leg members to said board for pivotal movement with respect thereto, and means connecting the upper end of the other of said leg members to said board for pivotal and sliding movement with respect thereto, one of said leg members comprising a pair of legs spaced apart from each other and means rigidly interconnecting said legs and the other of said leg members extending between said legs, a stop slidably mounted on said other of said leg members, means for releasably anchoring said stop in selected position of adjustment on said other of said leg members, sliding means carried by said other of said leg members, a rod connecting said sliding means to each of said legs, and latch means for releasably securing said sliding means to said stop means,

4. In combination with an optionally extensible or collapsible supporting structure comprising legs which incline downwardly and away from each other and which spread farther apart as said structure is collapsed, an adjustable stop for limiting movement of said legs away from their collapsed position, comprising a block slidably mounted on one of said legs, a slide slidably mounted on the same one of said legs above said block, and a rod pivoted at one end to said slide and at the other end to the other of said legs whereby said slide is pushed toward said block when said structure is extended and is pulled away from said block when said structure is collapsed, releasable means for locking said block in selected position of adjustment to predetermine the position of maximum extension of saidstructure, and latch means carried by said slide and engageable with said adjustable block to retain said legs in said predetermined position of extension, said latch means being releasable from said block without disturbing said block from its selected position of adjustment.

ROXTON C. MCKINNIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 804,244 Messer Nov. 14, 1905 1,162,778 I-Ioffine Dec. 7, 1915 

